George W. Bush on Jobs

President of the United States, Former Republican Governor (TX)

FactCheck: Yes, US gained 4.6M jobs, but also lost 2.6M jobs

The President noted that the US has gained 4.6 million jobs in the past two-and-a-half years. That's true. However, most of that gain merely made up for the 2.6 million jobs that were lost>/u> during Bush's first two-and-a-half years.

However, when the President said "the American people have turned in an economic performance that is the envy of the world," he was standing on firm ground. The US unemployment rate for December was 4.9 per cent.
That's significantly lower than most other industrialized democracies. Unemployment in Germany stands at 9.3 per cent, France at 9.2 per cent, Canada at 6.5 per cent.
Only Japan's rate of 4.6 per cent and the United Kingdom's 4.8 per cent were better than the US, according to latest figures from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Source: FactCheck analysis of 2006 State of the Union speech
Feb 1, 2006

US has gained 4.6M jobs since 2003

Our economy is healthy and vigorous, and growing faster than other major industrialized nations. In the last two-and-a-half years, America has created 4.6 million new jobs -- more than Japan and the European Union combined.
Even in the face of higher energy prices and natural disasters, the American people have turned in an economic performance that is the envy of the world.

Source: 2006 State of the Union speech
Jan 31, 2006

George W. Bush on Farm Policy

Farm bill provides $40B over 10 years for conservation

The farm bill will provide over $40 billion over the next decade in funds for conservation programs that will restore millions of acres of wetlands, conserve water, and improve streams and rivers.

Source: Campaign website, www.georgewbush.com
Aug 30, 2003

Don’t use food as a diplomatic weapon; it hurts farmers

Q: The family farms are disappearing and having a hard time, even in the current positive economic environment. Your plan?

BUSH: I’d like our farmers feeding the world. We’re the best producers in the world. And I want the farmers feeding the world.
We need to open up markets. Exports are down. And every time an export number goes down, it hurts the farmer. I want the next president to have fast track negotiating authority to open up markets around the world. We’re the best. We’re the most efficient
farmers. I don’t want to use food as a diplomatic weapon from this point forward. It hurts the farmers. It’s not the right thing to do.

We need more work on value-added processing. I’m for research and development, so that we can use our technological
base to figure out new uses for farm products.

I’m for completely getting rid of the death tax. One reason family farmers are forced to sell early is because of the death tax. It’s a tax that taxes people twice, it penalizes the family farmer.

Source: St. Louis debate
Oct 17, 2000

Keep Freedom to Farm Act: cut price supports

Q: The Freedom to Farm Act cut price supports to farmers while giving them more freedom to plant what they want. Do you support this law?

A: Yes. The best way to ensure a strong and growing agricultural sector is through a
more market-driven approach that allows our farmers to fully participate in the world economy. As farming moves towards market-driven production, I believe the government should help farmers adapt to a global marketplace by providing
a strong safety net and the means to manage the cyclical downturns in the farm economy. I will reinforce the important role farmers and ranchers play in the U.S. economy by increasing trade opportunities, reducing regulatory
burdens, and reducing the overall tax burden. My administration will also renew our commitment to investments in new and innovative technologies for rural America.

Source: Associated Press
Sep 20, 2000

Farm policy: emergency relief; insurance; antitrust

From this point forward, would not use food as a unilateral sanction or diplomatic weapon

Called for emergency disaster relief, both through direct payments to farmers and through reforming crop insurance

Supports tax incentives for use
of ethanol

Will ensure aggressive enforcement of antitrust laws and will move forcefully against any agribusiness entities that are conducting anti-competitive practices

Source: GeorgeWBush.com: ‘Issues: Policy Points Overview’
Apr 2, 2000

Family farms: Food for Peace instead of food as a weapon

Q: Since the family farmer is self-employed, would you cap government agriculture benefits to a modest one-family level? A: I would look at the formulas to make sure that the money was distributed fairly. And I would have an agricultural department that
would send the money out on a timely basis. I believe we ought to open up markets all around the world. We ought to reduce barriers and tariffs. We shouldn’t be using food as a diplomatic weapon. We ought to implement the food for peace program.
We ought to eliminate the death tax as well so people can pass their farm from one generation to the next. And we ought to have good sound risk management policies that give farmers more options when it comes to crop insurance, and more options on how to
manage their income. Agriculture is incredibly important for this country and one of the reasons why we’ve had trouble in the world is because administrations have traded off agriculture just as if it’s a secondary part of our economy. It’s not.

Source: GOP Debate in Johnston, Iowa
Jan 16, 2000

Ethanol tax incentives good for farmers and good for air

George W. Bush says that he “supports tax incentives for use of ethanol [because] not only is it good for the farmer, it is good for the quality of air all across America.”

George W. Bush on Labor

FactCheck: Bush lost 1.6M PRIVATE jobs, gained some in gov't

KERRY-EDWARDS CLAIM:"George Bush's record speaks for itself. 1.6 million lost jobs. The first president in 72 years to actually lose jobs on his watch."

CNN FACT CHECK:Kerry is correct that Bush is on track to have a net loss of jobs by the end
of his first term, and possibly to become the first president since Herbert Hoover to leave office with a net loss in jobs. However the 1.6 million figure that Kerry refers to in his speech overstates the scope of the nation's total job loss. This number
refers to the total number of private sector jobs lost since January 2001, when Bush took office, through August 2004. The 1.6 million figure does not factor in a net increase in public sector jobs, which reduces the loss in overall jobs to 821,000. The
Kerry campaign explains this distinction in a fact sheet to reporters, but on the stump, Kerry himself only says that 1.6 million jobs were lost, without clarifying that he is referring to only private sector jobs, and not all jobs overall.

Source: CNN FactCheck on statements by Bush and Kerry:
Oct 29, 2004

Education is the best way to create jobs

Q: What do you say to someone who has lost his job to someone overseas who's being paid a fraction of what that job paid here in the US?

A: I've got policies to continue to grow our economy and create jobs. Here's some help for you to go get an
education. Here's some help for you to go to a community college. We've expanded trade adjustment assistance. We want to help pay for you to gain the skills necessary. The best way to keep jobs here in America is to make sure our education system works.

Source: Third Bush-Kerry Debate, in Tempe Arizona
Oct 13, 2004

To keep jobs in US, develop energy and keep taxes low

Q: How can the US be competitive in manufacturing and still pay the wages Americans have come to expect?

BUSH: Let me start with how to control the cost of health care: medical liability reform, for starters, which he's opposed. Secondly, allow small
businesses to pool together so they can share risk and buy insurance at the same discounts big businesses get to do. Thirdly, spread what's called health savings accounts. It's good for small businesses, good for owners. You own your own account. You can
save tax-free. You get a catastrophic plan to help you on it. The best way to keep jobs here in America is, one, have an energy plan. I proposed one to the Congress two years ago, encourages conservation, encourages technology to explore for
environmentally friendly ways for coal-to use coal and gas. It encourages the use of renewables like ethanol and biodiesel. Less regulations if we want jobs here; legal reform if we want jobs here; and we've got to keep taxes low.

Source: Second Bush-Kerry debate, St. Louis, MO
Oct 8, 2004

Will double the workforce for our job training program

Another priority in a new term will be to help workers take advantage of the expanding economy to find better, higher-paying jobs. In this time of change, many workers want to go back to school to learn different or higher-level skills.
So we will double the number of people served by our principal job training program and increase funding for community colleges. I know that with the right skills, American workers can compete with anyone, anywhere in the world.

Source: 2004 Republican Convention Acceptance Speech
Sep 2, 2004

Will change outdated labor laws to offer comp-time

In this time of change, government must take the side of working families. In a new term, we will change outdated labor laws to offer comp-time and flex-time. Our laws should never stand in the way of a more family-friendly workplace.

Source: 2004 Republican Convention Acceptance Speech
Sep 2, 2004

Dedicated to improving economy through job growth

Bush signed into law a bold jobs and growth plan to strengthen America's economy and ensure its continued growth.
In passing a jobs and growth plan, the administration has taken aggressive action to strengthen the foundation of our economy so that every American who wants to work will be able to find a job.

Source: Campaign website, www.georgewbush.com
Aug 29, 2003

Passed 13 week extension of unemployment benefits

Unemployed workers received an additional 13 week extension of their federal unemployment benefits,
allowing them the support they need while looking to rejoin the workforce.

Source: Campaign website, www.georgewbush.com
Aug 29, 2003

Not satisfied until everyone who wants a job can find one

In 2003, Bush signed jobs and growth legislation and made clear that he will not stop working for economic security until everyone who wants a job has one. All of these measures are helping our economy as it recovers.
President Bush will not be satisfied until every American who wants a job can find one; until every business has a chance to grow; and until we turn our economic recovery into lasting prosperity that reaches every corner of America.

Source: Campaign website, www.georgewbush.com
Aug 29, 2003

Flex-time & family-oriented work rules via tax code

Bush put a family-oriented twist on a familiar theme, casting his $1.3 trillion, 10-year tax-cut proposal as part of a grander concept of providing greater flexibility to employees. He added several points to his agenda:

letting employees receive
compensation time instead of overtime pay;

making employer-purchased home computers tax deductible;

forbidding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from monitoring home offices;

and encouraging television networks to return to an
evening “family hour.”

The overtime proposal, sometimes called “flex-time” by the Clinton administration, has been criticized by some Democrats who fear employers would force employees to take time off instead of overtime pay. A Bush aide said the
proposal would forbid such pressuring, but he did not elaborate on how the law would work. The House has passed legislation similar to Bush’s proposal twice, and Clinton has supported a narrower version. Unions are largely opposed to any measure.